Al Befekadu is the owner of the East Side Food Mart on East Whitner street in Anderson.

Anderson Independent Mail

Twila Holliday, left, of the Holliday Veggie Patch in Belton sells green beans to a couple of her most loyal customers. Holliday said most of the people coming to the market get there by car and return year after year.

Anna Bard Brutzman

Several people presented senior-citizen and WIC vouchers to buy produce at the Sullivan Farm booth this past week at the Anderson County Farmers Market. The U.S. Department of Agriculture has said downtown Anderson is a so-called "food desert" because no grocery stores are within a mile of several low-income neighborhoods there.

Anna Bard Brutzman

The Department of Social Services issues vouchers every year that low-income families can use at farmers markets to get fresh food. Several vendors said they rarely see customers with the vouchers.

Anna Bard Brutzman

Fresh food is available three times a week from spring through mid-fall at the Anderson County Farmers Market, but there are no grocery stores serving the needs of neighborhoods in the immediate downtown area, making it a "food desert," according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Anna Bard Brutzman

Anderson farmer Willis Bannister holds food-stamp coins that low-income families can use at the Anderson County Farmers Market. He said he's received about eight of the coins in as many weeks.